Earring finding for jacket and assembly

ABSTRACT

A finding for an earring jacket and ear decoration assembly including the jacket are disclosed. The earring jacket includes three colinear holes along its height that allow the wearer to choose which hole to insert an earring post into. The choice of hole determines the distance between the earring jacket decoration and the earlobe of the wearer. The structure also provides more support to the earring when in use, and presents a decoration flush with the ornamentation on the front of an earring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates to a finding for an earring jacket, the earring jacket including the finding, and earring assembly. The earring jacket is height-adjustable, configured to support an earring when located behind the wearer's earlobe, and can present a decoration flush with the ornamentation on the front of a stud earring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, an earring jacket finding comprises a support member comprising an ear-side end and a decoration-side end, wherein the support member comprises a length running from the ear-side end to the decoration-side end, a bend between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end, and a series of colinear apertures along the length of the support member on a portion of the support member on a side of the bend opposite the decoration-side end.

In another embodiment, the bend is at an angle of about 90° or more between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end. In another embodiment, the series of colinear apertures comprises three apertures. In another embodiment, the portion of the support member on the side of the bend opposite the decoration-side end is substantially planar. In another embodiment, each aperture in the series of colinear apertures is sized to allow an earring post to pass through. In another embodiment, the series of colinear apertures comprises at least three apertures spaced equidistant apart.

In another embodiment, the earring jacket finding comprises a decoration attachment member on the decoration-side end of the support member. In another embodiment, the decoration attachment member is a loop. In another embodiment, the decoration attachment member is a clip.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an earring jacket comprises an earring jacket finding comprising one or a combination of features for an earring jacket finding described herein, and a decoration attached to the decoration-side end. In another embodiment, the decoration is attached to a loop at the decoration-side end. In another embodiment, the decoration is removably attachable to the finding.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an ear decoration assembly comprises an earring jacket comprising an earring jacket finding comprising one or a combination of features for an earring jacket finding described herein, an earring comprising a post passing through one of the apertures of the earring jacket finding, and an earring back attached to the earring post. In another embodiment, the earring jacket finding comprises an ear-contact surface area, the earring back comprises a jacket-contact surface area, wherein the ear-contact surface area is larger than the jacket-contact surface area.

In one embodiment of the present invention a method of attaching an ear decoration assembly to an ear comprising the sequential steps of: passing an earring post through a pierced earlobe, placing an earring jacket described herein on the earring post by passing the post through one of the apertures on the jacket, and attaching an earring back to the earring post.

Embodiments and subparts of embodiments specifically described herein may be combined together in any possible combination to arrive at other embodiments of the present invention, all of which are included within the disclosure herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of one embodiment of the present invention in use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention without a decoration attached.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention with a decoration attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a finding for an earring jacket, an earring jacket that includes the finding, and an earring assembly including the jacket. The earring jacket that includes the inventive finding is height-adjustable according to the anatomy or preferences of the wearer, provides support for an earring when worn behind the earlobe of the wearer, and presents a decoration flush with the ornamentation on the front of an earring worn on the front side of the earlobe. The present invention also relates to an ear decoration assembly that includes the inventive earring jacket, and a method of use. Generally, an earring jacket is a decorative accessory that attaches to an earring post (preferably a stud-type earring) either in front of or behind the auricular lobule (commonly referred to as the earlobe) of the wearer. The term finding is used in the jewelry arts to describe the components that go into the making of jewelry.

FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an ear decoration assembly 102 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted therein, an exemplary earring comprises a front-facing ornament 128 attached to a post 126. The post is intended to be inserted through the hole of a pierced earlobe, through an aperture 120, 122, or 124 of the earring jacket 108, and into an aperture 106 of an earring back 104, which holds the ear decoration assembly together behind the earlobe.

The exemplary earring jacket 108 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a finding that itself is comprised of a support member (which includes three distinct segments identified by 114, 116, and 118), wherein the support member has an ear-side end on section 118 nearest to aperture 124, and a decoration-side end on segment 114 nearest loop 112 that holds decoration 110. The support member shown in FIG. 1 also comprises a series of three colinear apertures 120, 122, and 124 that run along the length of the support member near the ear-side end.

The support member also comprises a bend 116 between the ear-side end and the decoration-side end. In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the bend between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end comprises an angle of about 90° or more. It is understood that an angle of 180° between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end would mean that no bend at all is present. Therefore, practically speaking, a bend angle of about 90° or greater, but less than 180°, is preferred.

The earring jacket 108 also comprises a decoration 110 attached to the decoration-side end of the finding. In a preferred embodiment, the decoration 110 is attached to a loop 112 at the decoration-side end. The bend in the support member allows the decoration 110 attached to the decoration-side end to be presented flush with the ornament 128 on the earring that is used in conjunction with the earring jacket. Almost any type of decoration can be attached to the decoration-side end of the earring jacket, including, without limitation, one or more jewels, gemstones, pendants, loops, ornaments, accessories, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 2 depicts the ear decoration assembly of FIG. 1 attached to the pierced earlobe 202 of a human ear 204. As depicted therein, the earring post of a stud earring is inserted through the hole of the pierced earlobe 202, the earring jacket is attached to the earring post by inserting the post through one of the apertures on the earring jacket, and then the earring back is placed onto the post to hold the assembly together.

FIG. 2 also depicts three functional advantages of the present invention over the prior art. First, the wearer can determine the proximity of the earring jacket decoration to the earlobe by deciding which of the series of apertures to use when assembling the device. Use of the top aperture, as shown in FIG. 2, will cause the decoration to be located further away from the earlobe 202. Alternatively, the decoration can be moved closer to the earlobe 202 by instead inserting the earring post through the middle aperture of the earring jacket. This functionality not only allows for variations of aesthetics on a single earlobe, but it also allows the same earring jacket to be used by different people who have different anatomic dimensions.

Second, the bend in the support member presents the decoration on the earring jacket in approximately the same plane with the front of the earlobe, along with the earring's front ornament. A bend angle of about 90° or more between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end is particularly preferred for providing this functional advantage. Thus, the bend allows the decoration of the earring jacket to appear as if it is floating below the ornamentation of the stud earring used in conjunction with the jacket.

Third, the earring jacket provides a more supportive structure for the ear decoration assembly than prior earring jackets. The surface area of the support member around the apertures that is in contact with the user's ear is larger than the surface area of the earring back by itself. This structure stabilizes the ear decoration assembly from lateral motion by more closely matching the back-side support structure with the surface area behind the earring ornament on the front-side of the earlobe. Therefore, in one embodiment, the earring jacket comprises an ear-contact surface area where the earring jacket is in contact with the ear when in use, the earring back comprises a jacket-contact surface area where the earring back is in contact with the jacket, and the ear-contact surface area is larger than the jacket-contact surface area. In other words, the structures are designed to provide balance of the weight and support that work together to prevent earring droop.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a different embodiment of the earring jacket finding of the present invention. Whereas the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose fixed loop 112 for attachment of a decoration 110, the embodiments in FIGS. 3 and 4 disclose an attachment mechanism on the decoration-side end 114 that allows for the use of interchangeable decorations 410 on the earring jacket of the present invention. For the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, because the decoration is fixedly attached to the finding, typically a jeweler would attach the decoration to the earring jacket finding. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the user could attach the decoration to the finding because the decoration is interchangeable.

In particular, FIG. 3 depicts a clip member 312 attached to the decoration side end 114 of the support member or finding. Exemplary clip member 312 extends from the decoration-side end 114, bends in the direction of the ear-side end 118 and is biased back toward the finding. Alternatively, the clip member 312 could initially extend in a direction away from the ear-side 118 and be biased back toward the finding. Other clip members are also possible, such as any biased, hinged, or threaded structure that allows a decoration to be attached to and removed from the decoration-side of the finding.

It will now be evident to those skilled in the art that there has been described herein a height-adjustable earring jacket. Although the invention hereof has been described by way of preferred embodiments, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In sum, while this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An earring jacket finding comprising: a support member comprising an ear-side end and a decoration-side end, wherein the support member comprises: a length running from the ear-side end to the decoration-side end; a bend between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end; and a series of colinear apertures along the length of the support member on a portion of the support member on a side of the bend opposite the decoration-side end.
 2. The earring jacket finding of claim 1 wherein the bend is at an angle of about 90° or more between the decoration-side end and the ear-side end.
 3. The earring jacket finding of claim 1 wherein the series of colinear apertures comprises three apertures.
 4. The earring jacket finding of claim 1 wherein the portion of the support member on the side of the bend opposite the decoration-side end is substantially planar.
 5. The earring jacket finding of claim 1 wherein each aperture in the series of colinear apertures is sized to allow an earring post to pass through.
 6. The earring jacket finding of claim 1 wherein the series of colinear apertures comprises at least three apertures spaced equidistant apart.
 7. The earring jacket finding of claim 1 further comprising a decoration attachment member on the decoration-side end of the support member.
 8. The earring jacket finding of claim 7 wherein the decoration attachment member is a loop.
 9. The earring jacket finding of claim 7 wherein the decoration attachment member is a clip.
 10. An earring jacket comprising the earring jacket finding of claim 1 and a decoration attached to the decoration-side end.
 11. The earring jacket of claim 10 wherein the decoration is attached to a loop at the decoration-side end.
 12. The earring jacket of claim 10 wherein the decoration is removably attachable to the finding.
 13. An ear decoration assembly comprising: the earring jacket of claim 10; an earring comprising a post passing through one of the apertures of the earring jacket finding; and an earring back attached to the earring post.
 14. The ear decoration assembly of claim 13 wherein the earring jacket finding comprises an ear-contact surface area, the earring back comprises a jacket-contact surface area, wherein the ear-contact surface area is larger than the jacket-contact surface area.
 15. A method of attaching an ear decoration assembly to an ear comprising the sequential steps of: passing an earring post through a pierced earlobe; placing the earring jacket of claim 10 on the earring post by passing the post through one of the apertures on the jacket; attaching an earring back to the earring post. 